Sheriff Charged With Sexual Battery After Students Groped in Warrantless, School-Wide Drug Search
05 October 2017
A Georgia sheriff and two deputies have been charged with groping teens’ genitals during a drug search earlier this year at a high school.
Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby was indicted Tuesday on sexual battery, false imprisonment and violation of oath of office charges, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Deputy Tyler Turner was indicted on one felony count of violation of his oath of office and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery, and Deputy Deidra Whiddon was indicted on one felony count of violation of her oath of office.
The April 14 search at Worth County High School drew national attention after students complained about “aggressive” pat-downs of their groin areas and breasts.
The warrantless search turned up no drugs.
Hobby’s attorney said the sheriff welcomes an opportunity to maintain his innocence before a jury.
“The sheriff’s position is that he’s not guilty,” said attorney Norman Crowe Jr. “He’s committed no crime.”